VCT Americas’ three Masters Santiago representatives locked in: FURIA, G2, and NRG qualify

VCT Americas Kickoff has concluded with three teams earning their tickets to Masters Santiago: FURIA, G2 Esports, and NRG. After a month of intense competition at Los Angeles’ Riot Games Arena, these squads emerged victorious, each with compelling narratives of redemption, roster evolution, and championship resilience.

FURIA: First Seed, Historic Breakthrough After Complete Rebuild

FURIA claimed Americas’ first seed at Santiago after defeating superteam MIBR 3-2 in a dramatic upper bracket final, making history as the organization’s first-ever international qualification. The victory culminated an undefeated upper bracket run that defied all expectations for a team that won just one match with a substitute roster before this event.

The five-map thriller showcased FURIA’s resilience across Bind, Abyss, Haven, Breeze, and Split. After dropping Bind 8-13, FURIA responded with dominant performances on Abyss (13-8) and a hard-fought Haven victory (13-11). MIBR forced a decider with a crushing 13-2 win on Breeze, but FURIA closed out Split 13-8 to secure their Santiago berth and cement one of the most remarkable rebuild stories in VCT history.

FURIA’s path through the bracket was commanding. They defeated KRÜ Esports 2-1 in upper round one, then took down tournament favorites Sentinels 2-0 in upper round two. Their 2-1 victory over G2 Esports in upper round three set up the historic upper final against MIBR, where they completed their undefeated run.

Koalanoob emerged as the tournament’s breakout star, leading FURIA’s charge with 243.9 ACS and a phenomenal +36 kill differential across 159 rounds. The former EMEA player, who returned to the Americas after a stint with Navi, delivered clutch performances throughout the event, including a dominant 23-kill showing on Abyss in the grand final. His seven first kills on that map alone demonstrated his ability to open up sites consistently for his teammates.

Alym, one of two tier-2 additions alongside nerve, proved the doubters wrong with exceptional entry fragging on Waylay. His 207.3 ACS and team-leading 33 first kills across the tournament showcased elite opening ability, including crucial entries that swung rounds in FURIA’s favor. Artzin complemented the aggressive playstyle perfectly, posting 199.4 ACS with 61 assists—the highest support output of any player on the team. His clutch 1v2 against former teammate Verno in the Split decider will be remembered as a defining moment.

Nerve and eeiu rounded out a perfectly balanced roster. nerve, making his international debut, reflected on the achievement.

still can’t believe it bro, not even a year ago I was legit sleeping on the floor playing t2 for the 3rd season in a row now i’ve qualified as the #1 seed for Santiago 😭😭 ITS JUST THE BEGINNING FOR FURIA 🙏🙏

— FURIA nerve (@9nerve) February 14, 2026

This marks a stunning turnaround for an organization that had never qualified for an international event in VALORANT and had only won one series with a team full of substitutes in 2025. With a complete roster rebuild hungry to prove themselves, FURIA enters Santiago as one of the tournament’s most compelling underdog stories. Their undefeated run through the upper bracket, including victories over Sentinels, G2, and MIBR, proves that chemistry and hard work can triumph over superteams.

G2 Esports: Second Seed, BABYBAY Addition Sparks Santiago Run

G2 Esports secured Americas’ second seed after a clinical 3-0 sweep of MIBR in the middle bracket final. The addition of BABYBAY to replace jonahp has injected new life into the roster, with the veteran bringing explosive fragging and championship experience that complemented G2’s established core.

The middle final sweep showcased G2’s complete dominance. On Haven, G2’s map pick, they controlled both halves to take a 13-6 victory. Pearl saw even more control with a commanding performance that ended 13-8. The decider on Abyss featured G2’s signature aggressive playstyle, closing out 13-9 to punch their Santiago ticket without dropping a map in the series.

G2’s tournament journey saw them defeat 100 Thieves 2-1 in upper round two before falling to FURIA 1-2 in upper round three. Sent to the middle bracket, they responded with authority, sweeping Cloud9 2-0 in middle round three, knocking down NRG 2-0 in middle round four, then completing their qualification with the dominant 3-0 over MIBR.

Leaf led G2’s charge with 222.9 ACS and a clean +15 kill differential across 162 rounds. His consistency across multiple agents and maps provided the foundation for G2’s deep run. BABYBAY, the newest addition, immediately made his presence felt with a crucial 20 first kills that opened up sites for his teammates. Trent’s elite initiator play saw him posting 186.6 ACS with a team-leading 56 assists.

His utility usage consistently created space for the duelists while providing crucial info for G2’s strategic executes. Valyn, the team’s IGL, balanced fragging (199.3 ACS) with tactical leadership, while his 51 assists demonstrated hands-on involvement in site takes. Despite jawgemo struggling statistically with a -39 kill differential, his willingness to take space and die first often created opportunities for his teammates to trade and win rounds.

G2’s ability to sweep MIBR after falling to the middle bracket demonstrates the mental fortitude that has defined their recent success. With BABYBAY’s addition providing a new dimension to their attack, G2 arrives as legitimate contenders despite their seeding.

NRG: Third Seed, Lower Bracket Redemption Through Resilience

NRG secured Americas’ final Santiago spot through an arduous lower bracket run, capped by a dominant reverse sweep over MIBR in the lower bracket final. After starting strong in the upper bracket, NRG’s resilience through adversity defined their qualification journey.

NRG’s tournament began with promise: a clean 2-0 sweep of Cloud9 in upper round two. However, a shocking 1-2 loss to MIBR in upper round three sent them to the middle bracket, where they defeated 100 Thieves 2-0 in middle round three. A subsequent 0-2 loss to G2 in middle round four dropped them to the lower bracket, where they faced elimination in every remaining match.

The lower bracket run showcased NRG at their best. They dominated 100 Thieves 2-0 in lower round five to set up a rematch with MIBR in the lower final. After dropping the first two maps, NRG mounted one of the tournament’s most impressive comebacks, winning three straight maps to complete the reverse sweep 3-2 and punch their ticket to Santiago.

Mada led NRG’s firepower with 212.4 ACS and a team-high 26 first kills across just 147 rounds—the highest first kill rate among all NRG players. His aggressive duelist play consistently put pressure on opponents, and brawk provided crucial support with 217.1 ACS and just 10 first kills against 8 first deaths.

Keiko, the newest addition to the roster, contributed steady fragging with 193.4 ACS and 13 first kills. Skuba was the X factor in several crucial clutch rounds, while Ethan anchored the roster with veteran leadership despite his modest 167.1 ACS, posting a team-leading 61 assists that enabled his teammates’ success.

NRG’s qualification represents redemption for an organization that missed both Masters in 2025 before making a Cinderella run to win Champions Paris. Their ability to reverse sweep MIBR after dropping the first two maps, and to survive every lower bracket match with elimination on the line, demonstrates championship mentality. The team enters Santiago battle-tested and hungry to prove they belong among the elite.

What VCT Americas Brings to Masters Santiago

The region’s showing at Kickoff demonstrated remarkable depth and unpredictability. The tournament saw traditional powerhouses like Sentinels, LOUD, and LEVIATÁN fall short while FURIA’s rebuild and NRG’s resilience shone through.

Individually, the region showcased diverse talent. koalanoob’s breakout performance established him as one to watch on the international stage. mada and alym demonstrated elite entry fragging that will test opponents’ defensive setups. The supporting casts across all three teams, from trent’s initiator mastery to Ethan’s veteran anchoring to artzin’s clutch factor, proved that balanced rosters win championships.

Whether FURIA can maintain their magical run on the international stage, if G2’s roster changes can finally translate to global success, or if NRG’s battle-tested squad can capture their second international title remains to be seen. What’s certain is that Americas’ three representatives are ready to prove their region’s continued dominance in global VALORANT.